Adjustable gripper for shuttles



Dec. 9, 1930. w. H. BAHAN 1,784,265

ADJUSTABLE GRIPPER FOR SHUTTLES Filed May 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet, l

Dec. 9, 1930. w. H. BAHAN 1,784,266

ADJUSTABLE GRIPPER FOR SHUTTLES Filed May 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

1 N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

1930. w.H.BA1-|Ar 1,784,266

ADJUSTABLE GRIPPER FOR SHUTTLES Filed May 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet, 3

'lI/IIIIIIIIIIII Ill/rill,

v #44101! Mfiimam/ 6 62 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 9, 1930. w. H. BAHAN 1,784,266

ADJUSTABLE GRIPPER FOR SHUTTLES Filed May 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fatented De. 9, 1930 WILLIAM I-LBAHAN, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA ADJUSTABLE GRIPPER- FOR SHUTTLES Application filed May 4,

This invention relates to an improved shuttle and more especially to means for holding the bobbin or'quill in the shuttle in perfectly alined position.

An object of my invention is to provide improvements in a shuttle designed to hold the bobbin in perfect alinement with the shuttle and providing means for adjusting the bobbin holding means, so that the bobbin will be held at all times parallel to the shuttle.

Another object of my invention is to provide improvements in a shuttle which comprises a clamp for holding the base portion of the bobbin with means for inserting the clamp to cause the same to fit perfectly in the shuttle, and means for elevating the clamp when the same becomes'worn so as to cause a bobbin to be held in a perfectly parallel position with the shuttle.

I am aware that heretofore in shuttles of the conventional type that due to the fact that the bobbin or quill is forced into the clamp under great pressure, that the portion of the quill guide or bobbin guide as it is sometimes called, which supports the lower edge of the clamp for holding the base of the bobbin becomes worn, and also the lower edge of the clamp for holding the bobbin becomes worn, and this allows this clamp which holds the base of the bobbin or quill to sag downwardly and therefore becomes out of alinement with the main portion of the shuttle, and this will cause defective weaving, and a low class of cloth to be produced. By means of my invention I can adjust the clamp for holding the base of the bobbin or the quill to return it to normal position, which has heretofore been impossible with the conventional structure. Some of the objects of my invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of the shuttle showing my improvements in full and dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view 1929- Sfirial No. 360,457.

of my improvements as applied to a shuttle;

Figure 4 is a modified form of my invention and showing different means for accomplishingthe same results; I

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 Figure 7 is a modified form for'accomplishing the same results by means of the structure as shown in the Figures 4, 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of'a portion of a shuttle equipped with still another modified form of my device for adjusting the position of theparts for holding the bobbin; 7

Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an'exploded perpsective view of the structure shown in Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is a modified form of the structure shown in Figure 10; p r

F igure-l2 is an end view of Figure 11 looking fromalong the line1Qr-12 in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view of Figure 11 Figure 14 is a plan view of one end of the shuttle showing another modified form of my means for adjusting the position of the bobbin holding means i Figure 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 1515 in Figure 14;

Flgure 1 6 is an exploded perspective view of the parts which are adapted to be mounted in one end of the shuttle and whichis shown in Figures 14: and 15. i

Referring more specifically. to the draw ings the numeral 10 indicates the shuttle proper which has the cavity 11 formed longitudinally thereof, and opened at the topside with the portion 12 of the shuttle being not cut-away and on this portion 12 the means for holding the base of a bobbin or quill are mounted. The gripper 13 for holding the base of the bobbin has the grooves 14 cut on the inner surface of each end thereof into which the rings on the base of a bobbin or quill are adapted'to be fitted, and the bobbin or quill is forced into these grooves It under pressure causing the ends of the grippers 13 to spring outwardly to receive the bobbin or quill. This member 13 is a forked member iver e from each other.

and has the restricted portion 15 which has coinciding holes therethrough, through which the bolt 16 is adapted to be passed to hold the same in position. The shuttle proper is hollowed out to agree with the contour of the member 13 and the outer edges of the same except at the tip portions which hold the bobbin orquill, areadapted to fitflush against the hollowed out portlon in the shuttle. I

provide a quiller or bobbin guide 17 which is adapted to support the lowe'r'edges 'ofthe gripper l3 and this has theoutwardly turned port1ons 18 and 19, the lower-edges of the gripper being adapted to lieflushwith the outer surface of the lower portion of this member 17. This member 17 curves upwardly as at 20 and then inwardly as at 21 to form asloping surface against which the base of the bobbin is pressed when the same is in position, and these members 21 and 20 cause the bobbin to assume the proper position in the grooves 14. This member 17 has the upper portion 22 which is secured to the shuttle, proper by means of the wood screw 23. The. mechanism thus far described is of the conventionaltype and in this conventional mechanism heretofore that has been mountedajnon-adjustable wedge, which has been secured betweenthe portions 15 and 15a of the gripper,;but in myimprovement I providethe member 25 which is formed of a pieceofmetalbent upon itself to provide the circular, portion 26 which has a vertically disposed hole therethrou h which is interiorly threaded to receivethe threaded bolt 27 which projects downwardly and fits against the, ortion 17, and has the u per end thereo fs tted for the reception 0 a screw driver or otherv suitable tool. This, member 25 has the upwardly projecting portions 28; and 29 whichvfiareoutwardly as at 30 and 31, and then the ends thereof are turned inwardly in alinement with each other and have their ends fittingttogether, thus forming a wedge likestruoturewhich fits in between the gripat thepoint where its parallel portions This member 25 has, t eghole- 3ltherein through which the bolt 16 which pierces the holes in the gripper also is adapted to passithus mounting the gripper andthes readingmember 25, ona common pivot. nthe upper space of the member 25 I, mount the plate member 32 which has the downwardly projectingportion 33 which 'fitsat the rear edge of the rejections 28 ,and'29, and this plate member ts just: beneath the. portion 22 of the quill guide, so that it is seen that when the parts arem'ou'nted in the position shown in Figures 1and2, andthe bolt 16 and the screw 23 are driven home, that the parts will be heldin'rigid position. v

The. member 25'has the hollowed out portion26a and the screw 27 has the enlarged portion27a which fits against the member 17.

with which the bobbinor quill is forced into I the gripper that a force is exerted which gradually wears the lower edge vof the gripper and alsowears the plate 17, so as to cause the end portions'in which the grooves 14 are cutto' gradually sag downward, so that the base ofthe bobbin is held in a position which is notin the same plane as the tip end of the bobbin, and thus the bobbin is out of alinement, and this willcause seconds and bad weaving In my structure when this occurs I mere y take a screw driver and turn the screw 27 to the right and this presses the lower end of the screw against the plate 17, and willraisethe member 25 on its pivot and the raising operation will force the wedge rtion vformed by the portions30 and 31 into the narrow or restricted ortion of the gripper 13 which is formed y the parallel portions 15 and 15a, and this will spread the gri per apart and force the gripper against t a side walls of the cavity in which it fits, and will therefore hold the gripper in a rigid posi tion, and will also raise the gripper up to a point where it is in perfect 'alinement, and thus render the entire shuttle practically as good as new. v I

In Figures 4, 5, (Sand 7 I have shown a slightly different embodiment of my invention, in which the parts 10 to 23 are the same as thestructure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. But I have provided a different means for spreadingthe gripper, and for elevating the same which is shown by means of the member 40 which is adapted 'to be pivotally mounted on the bolt 16 between the portions 15 and 15a ofthe base of the gripper, and this member 40 has the projection 41 thereon,and has the longitudinally and horizontally extending bolt 42 which has the nut 43 thereon, with the washer 44 and the wedge member 45 mounted loosely on said bolt, by means of havin the elongated slot '46 through which the b0 t 42 is adapted to pass, and this mem ber 45 has'the cam surface 46 which is adapted to press against the (ram surface 41 on the member 40, and toraise the same when the nut 43 is driven home. This member 45 has the vertically disposed sloping surfaces 47 and 48, which are adapted to press inwardly between the restricted portion of the gripper and to spread the same laterally towedge the same tightly in position while-at the same time the cams 41 and 46 elevate the member 40 at one end thereof by turning the Same on its pivot 16, and this raises the gripper 13 because the member is adapted to fit snugly between the portions 15 and 15a, and if necessary to be welded thereto, to prevent slippage with respect to the portion 40 and the portions 15 and 15a of the gripper, so that when the portion 40 is elevated the gripper will be elevated therewith, and the pressing in of the member will spread the gripper.

In Figure 7 I have shown a slightlymodilied form of the invention as disclosed in- Figures 4, 5 and 6, in which I have themember with the hole 51 therein, which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on the transversely disposed bolt 16 and instead of having the cam surface 41 as appears on the member 40, I provide the cam surface at the lower face thereof, said cam surface being indicated by the reference character 52, and I also have the bolt 42a with the wedge member 45a, with the vertically disposed cam surfaces 47a which acts in the same manner as the cam surfaces 47 in Figure 7, and I have the sloping cam surface 466 integral with the member 45a, but which slopes inwardly and fits against the cam surface 52, and this has a wedging effeet which elevates the member 50 along with the ripper 13, and the surfaces 47a, the said gripper forces the same against the side walls of the cavity in the shuttle, thus efiecting the same result in a different way as disclosed in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

In both of Figures 6 and 7 I provide the plate 53 which is adapted to fit over the top of the member 40 or 50 as the case may be by means of the slot 54 which is adapted to fit over the top of the member 40 or the member 50 as the case may be. The conventional quiller guide portion 22 is adapted to fit over the top of this plate 53 in both instances.

The member 45a has the elongated slot 46a therein, which is similar to the slot 46 in Fig;

ure 6. In Figures 8, 9 and 10 is shown another embodiment of my invention, in which .3 the members 10 to 23 are the same as those deand 63, the portion 63 being bent inwardly 1 and forwardly, and has a vertically disposed hole therethrough, in which the set screw 64 is threadably mounted, said set screw being adapted to fit against the plate 17 for purposes of elevating the member when the set screw 64 is turned. This projection in which the set screw is threadably mounted the portion 22 of the plate which is integral with the quiller guide'or bobbin guide portion 21. After the portions 62 and 63 are bent with their sides flush against each other, a tapered hole is cut out of both sections,

and the pin 67 is mounted therein, and then the enlarged hole 68 is cut out of the top portion of the members 62 and 63 and coincides with the hole. in which the tapered pin 67 is mounted, and the interior of this hole is threaded and the set screw 69 'is mounted therein, so that by driving home the set screw 69 the taperedpin 69 will be forced downwardly, and this will spread the portions 62 and 63, and therefore spread the outer surfaces of the gripper against the side walls of the cavity in which the said gripper is mounted. After this spreading operation has been effected or even before it has been effected by turning the set screw 64 the member 60 will be turned on its pivot 16 and this will elevate the gripper 13 especially when the spreading operation has been effected before the elevating operation has taken place. 7

The pin 64 has the enlarged head 64a with the slot 64?) therein adapted to receive a screw driver and the member 17 has the hole 640 therein. and the shuttle portion 10 has the hole 64d therein so that it is seen that a screw driver can be inserted through the hole 64d and the hole 640 to engage the slot 64?) in the head 64a so that the mechanism may be adjusted without dismantling the same.

In Figures 11, 12 and 13 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention as disclosed in Figures 8, 9 and 10. In this modified form I dispensewith the elevating mechanisms 64 and as shown in Figure 10 and in lieu thereof I provide the tapered hole in which I mount the tapered pin 76, the lower end of said pin being threaded as at 77 and a cut away portion is cut out of the member 60 and the nut 78 is mounted therein, this cut away portion being perfectly square which prevents the nut from turning, and then when the screw 76 is rotated by means of a screw driver, the lower end of the pin 76 will project against the plate 17 and elevate the member 60 or rather rotate the same on the pivot point 16, and at the same time the portions 62 and 63 will be spread apart from each other, and thus simultaneous spreading and elevation will take place. 1 4

In Figures 14, 15 and 16 I have shown still another modified form of my invention, in

which the parts 10 to 23 inclusive are the same as in the other structures set forth, and in this structure I have a slightly. modified form ofrwedging and elevating means which comprises the elevating and wedging member 80 which has a hole 81 therethrough which ispivotally mounted onthe transverse: ly disposed .bolt 16in the same mannerthat the other. wedging and elevating members are-mounted/ This member-80 hasthe ens larged. portions 82 ando83 projectingtherec from, these portionsbeing formed by bendinga piece of metal upon itself, and these portions lie flush against each other, as designatedby the. reference characters84 and 85,

and by: having the enlargedportion formed by the outwardly projecting portions 82 and 83, Ithusprovide a cavity 86 which is verclined slot'92'and the portion 93 is vertically disposed which has the slot 89 therein,

and. the horizontally disposed portion 95 is adapted to rest on the plate 17 so that when the out 196 on the bolt 87' is driven home it will force the portion 88 into the slot 92 and elevatethemember :80, by turning the same on its pivot 16 and this will force the portions 82 and 83 against the inside portionssof the gripper13, and will wedge these portions 82 and 83 into therestricted portion formed by the portions and 15a, .and'will there-' fore force the gripper outwardly'aga-inst the 8 wall of the cavity in which it is placed to take up any wear which may have occurred between the gripper and the wall of the cavity in which it is placed, and at the same time the member 80 by means of the wedging portions 82 and 83 willraise the gripper upwardly with relation to the plate 17 and cause the gripper to be adjusted to a proper position so that it will hold the bobbin or quill held by the grooves loin-perfect alinement,

and thatrtakes up any wear which may have 7 occurred due to the excessive strain caused by the rapid forcing of the quill or bobbin intothe gripper where it is held during the weaving operation.

- In the drawings and'speeification, I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, and although specificterms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: f

1. In a shuttle having a gripper to hold the" bobbin, means for adjusting the position of the gripper intohorizontal alinement with the shuttle and means for spreading the base ofthe, gripper in said adjustedposition.

2., In a;-shuttle, a gripper for holding the member to spread the gripper and meas es lmeans for elevating the wedge member to press the same intothe gripper to spread the same, and means-for'holding the said wedge member in adjusted position. b

4. In a shuttle, a gripper, a base plate for supporting said gripper, a wedge member i'nounted in said gripper, alined holes in said gripper and said wedge member, a bolt piercing theholes, in said wedge member and said gripper, a set screw mounted in said Wedge member and having the lower'endthereof resting on said base plate, said set screw being adapted to. be rotated to elevate said wedge'n'iember andto press the upper end of said wedge member between the gripper to s multaneously spread the gripper to cause it to conform to the side walls of the cavity in the shuttle, and to also elevate the gripper intoproper adjusted position. V

In a shuttle, a gripper, a combinedbase plate and quiller guide mounted in said shuttle, pivoted means for securing the gripper in said shuttle, a wedge member pivotally mounted in the base portion of said gripper,

elevating means for the free end of said wedge member, said wedge member being adapted to be simultaneously elevated, and wedge linto the gripper to simultaneously raise one end of the gripper and to force the side walls of the gripper against the, side walls of the cavity in which the same is mounted. w M I 6. Ina shuttle for looms having a gripper for holding the base of the bobbin, a trans versely disposed bolt on which the gripper is mounted, awedge member in the base portion ofthe gripper, said wedge member being pivotally mounted at the same point on whichithe gripper is 'pivotally mounted, means for elevating one end of the wedge to raise the gripperto proper position. V

7. In alshuttle, a gripper having a U-' shaped baseportion', the transversely disposed bolt piercingthe shuttle on whichone end ofthe gripper is pivotally mounted, a member mounted in the U-shaped base portion of the gripper and being pivotally mounted on the same point that the gripper is mounted; a cam member on Y said member which is mounted in-the base of the gripper, a longitudinally extending bolt mountedon said last named member, a combined wedge and cam member loosely mounted on said bolt, saidwedge and cam member. being adaptedto simultaneously raise the freeend of the gripper and to spread the base portion ing the grippers to cause the same to conform of the gripper.

8. In a shuttle, a being of the conventional type and having a looped base portion, transversely disposed bolt penetrating said looped portion of the gripper, a wedge member mounted on the inside of the looped portion of the gripper and being pivotally mounted on the same bolt on which the gripper is pivotally mounted, the said wedge member being adapted to spread the said gripper, and a set screw mounted vertically in said wedge member, said set screw being adapted to raise the said wedge member, said set screw being adapted to rest on the conventional quiller guide in said shuttle.

9. A shuttle having a gripper and a combined spreading and elevating member asso eiated with said gripper, said combined elevating and spreading member having means to elevate the position of the gripper and to press the gripper firmly against the inside walls of the cavity in the shuttle.

10. In a shuttle having a quill guide, a gripperhavingalooped base portion, a wedge member mounted in the base of the gripper and means for adjusting the wedge member to spread the gripper and to adjust the horizontal position of the gripper.

11. In a shuttle for looms and the like having a gripper and a quill guide, a wedge member mounted in said base of said gripper having an approximately U-shaped base, said gripper, said gripper and said wedge member being pivotally mounted on a common pivot, and means for raising the free end of the wedge member to simultaneously spread the gripper and to raise the gripper to adjust the same as to its horizontal position.

12. In a shuttle having the conventional gripper, a quill guide having portions thereof mounted above and below the base of the gripper, a bolt piercing through the gripper, a wedge member mounted on said bolt, means in one end of the wedge member for raising the same to spread the grippers and to raise the gripper to adjust the same as to horizontal position.

13. In a shuttle a gripper therein, means for adjusting the vertical alinement or" said gripper with relation to said shuttle, and means for spreadin said gripper.

14. In a shuttle for looms and the like, a gripper, a pivoted wedge member mounted in said gripper, means for raising one end of said wedge member, means for adjusting said raising means from the exterior of the shuttle, said raising means and wedge means being adapted to spread the gripper and to adjust its horizontal position with relation to the shuttle frame.

15. In a shuttle having a gripper and quill guide, expanding means for simultaneously raising one end of the grippers and spreadto the cavity in the shuttle, said means being gripper, said gr pper operable from the exterior of the shuttle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. BAI-IAN. 

